…or, the return of Michael S. Cox…
Remember that post I wrote a while back about how I asked Michael S. Cox if he was a spammer, and his response was (basically), “You’re ugly”?
That got me irritated and put up a rant entitled Michael S. Cox is a spammer. A number of you (according to Google, a large number of you) linked to it.
Now, he’s sending out cease and desist letters, not just to me, but (so far as I can tell) to everyone he can find who linked here and whose email address he can find. I’ve written up the current status at Michael S. Cox is a spammer, Part 2.
My apologies for anyone who got dragged into this, and although I am not a lawyer, my best guess is that you can just ignore his email.
Update: sadly, here’s Michael S. Cox Is A Spammer, Part 3.
Dori,
I’m not just a lawyer, I’m also a prospective co-defendant!
In all seriousness, let me know if you or your ISP get an actual C&D. I can’t represent you in California, but as a prospective co-defendant I can definitely collaborate with you on legal issues. By coincidence, I’ve been working on a a case defending an internet-related defamation claim. So I know a little bit about some of the legal issues we might be facing.
A little searching shows that autumngallery.net was putatively in Oregon, but the customer service numbers (when they were up on the site) were for Polish telephones. The amazing coincidences seem to be multiplying.
i’m a friend of michael’s, you are so cruel. a link exchange email to debian in 2003, and he’s a spammer.
Thanks,
Robin
Now that Robin has said her small piece, it’s my turn. All of this fuss is over a link exchange email that was sent to debian in 2003. He said he explained the possible origin of the email to you, he showed me the email + headers, why didn’t you post that? This is about a wounded ego, and your inability to swallow your pride, and admit you were wrong. You are publicly defaming him, so please post this and allow objective parties to speak about it. For God’s sake publish the whole story.
Jacek
I’m the last one of us 3 [for now
]. We are not trying to harass you, just defend Michael. How can you say the email was spam, when it wasn’t even sent to you? Why do you not post the whole story, are you afraid.
Gosia
Krakow
PS Yes, I’m polish, also jewish too, so maybe you think my opinion is worthless, no?
lastly. For michael. Maybe you don’t like the truth it seems. Bye
], so please help me out here.
], so please help me out here.
***Gosia***
Reply-To: “Michael S. Cox”
From: “Michael S. Cox”
To:
Subject: Dori
Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 09:38:09 -0700
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Dori,
I spent about 10 minutes typing a final cease and desist letter, but I =
thought I would go ahead and step out of defense mode for a second, and =
to try and communicate with you. What inspired this, was I was just =
talking to a friend about this situation, and he was like “na man, she’s =
just given you a hard time, where’s your sense of humor”. So I thought =
about that for a bit, I don’t know you, or what your sense of humor is =
like. So… I’ll go ahead and give you the benefit of the doubt, and =
believe that you don’t truly have intentions of leaving those statements =
about me being spammer live online indefinitely, and that you don’t wish =
me harm. Your are just giving me a hard time, right? =20
Now Dori, I contacted you about chalcedony.com, because I was sincerely =
interested in purchasing it from you. It’s a cool domain that I could =
definitely develop and get some good long term use out of. I was =
shocked by your response, “are you Michael S. Cox the spammer, no we =
don’t want your money”. So I’m reading this and thinking crap, this =
person thinks I’m a spammer, I’ve got numerous internet assets spread =
across the web, some with AdSense and Yahoo ads, so naturally I said, =
“no it’s someone else, if you want to sale the domain drop me a note”. =
I blew you off because I don’t want anyone damaging my financial assets, =
specially I don’t want someone heading on over to a website of mine with =
PPC ads, and attempting to get me banned from one of the publisher =
networks, simply stated, I don’t want enemies. Money and assets aside, =
you insulted before I even had a chance to discuss the matter with you =
civilly, sorry but I’m not going to fend off allegations from someone =
that I don’t even know, I don’t have the time or energy for that, or the =
need, and apparently too much pride. I did not expect you to respond =
the second email, I thought it would get you off my case, and it would =
end there. Your second email which from my point of view was far more =
vehement than the first, really pissed me off, I’ll say it straight. =
I’m reading it thinking “what is up with this lady”? I then thought =
“hell no, I’m not going to defend myself against this person’s =
allegations and insults”, you insulted me Dori, but you don’t even know =
me. I hate spam mailers as much as you, and I certainly don’t want to =
labeled one, as I’m not.
Second concern, I owned Autumn Gallery until about January of this year. =
I sold the website and domain over at sitepoint.com, as you noted. My =
fear was, and is now somewhat justified, that if you knew I was the same =
Michael S. Cox, you would not believe that I don’t own the website, and =
you would try and damage it either by defamation, or by PPC fraud. The =
guy that owns the site, his name is Vadim, he’s really nice guy, and I =
especially don’t want anything bad to happed to him or his website as a =
result of some pointless feud that we have cooked up over nothing.
Now to the real core of the problem here. The email over at debian, and =
I’m sure it’s not the only one there, wasn’t spam. Autumn Gallery had =
at one point over 4000 reciprocal links in it’s directory. Now keep =
mind, I was stupid enough at the time, to try and manage that all =
manually, without any form of computer software, link programs etc. =
What happened, and it happened several times, is I kept sending by =
mistake the same link exchange request to the same people, people that =
had already linked with me. So obviously some of these people got =
annoyed, others got outright pissed off. I wasn’t doing this with =
malicious intent, I wasn’t marketing Viagra, I especially wasn’t =
marketing my own products via spam, I was simply trying to manage a =
directory of links that got at one point completely unmanageable. So, =
obviously one of these people or several for that matter, sent in =
complaints about getting repeated link requests. I operated the site =
for nearly 4 years, so I think it’s inevitable that when you are sending =
out email to clients, wholesale shops, etc, emails are going caught in =
spam filters, sent to the wrong people, etc. Autumn Gallery also had a =
mailing list of about 2000 subscribers I think it was, I even had a =
couple of those people say “what the hell are you sending me this email =
for, and then realizing they were on the list”. So I may be guilty of =
poor website management, annoying my link partners, but nothing more.
So Dori, to make a long story short, I don’t spam people, and confronted =
with insults from a stranger, I would just rather turn a cheek and walk =
away. I have God given right to want to protect all of my assets, I’m =
just like anyone else. I translated your initial email as “a threat to =
me”, and I reacted accordingly. I have an enormous amount of hard work =
and money invested in internet assets as I mentioned, I was stupid for =
trying to maintain anonymity with you when it clearly wasn’t possible, =
but I didn’t do it out of malice or anything sinister, I was just trying =
to walk away from the situation without creating a enemy, without =
creating any problems.
I’m sorry for what I said to you, I don’t believe you are ugly. In fact =
I saw a photo, I think it was of you and husband [via Google images], =
you both look like a very nice couple. I’m actually from California as =
well, I grew up in Whittier down south of you, my folks and I moved up =
to Hillsboro, Oregon when I was about 10. When I was 21 I got a =
scholarship to study at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, I =
fell in love with city and have been living here ever since. Anyways, =
I’m not telling you this because you are interested, it’s my attempt to =
put a bit of a human side to myself.
So please, we don’t have to be friends, but we don’t have to be enemies =
either. This is a misunderstanding that has over boiled over. Please =
remove the spammer comments about me, that’s all I am asking. There is =
no need for this to escalate any further. I really hope that you can =
read this, and understand my point of view on the events as they =
unfolded. I’m doing some really cool things online [none of which =
include spam
I hope you can fix this for me Dori. If you could even type out a small =
retract, that would be so very much appreciated. It could say something =
like “Michael S. Cox was a rude arse to me in an email, and even lied =
about his identity in a lame attempt to shelter himself, but it turns =
out he’s not a spammer.” Or you could even just create page that says =
“Michael S. Cox is asshole” if you can’t forgive me for being cruel to =
you. I have sent this to you in sincerity and good faith. Please meet =
me in the middle, and let’s bury our grievances. Any other way of =
dealing with this is wasted time for both us.
I await your reply,
Michael
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Dori,
I spent about 10 minutes typing =
a final=20
cease and desist letter, but I thought I would go ahead and step out of =
defense=20
mode for a second, and to try and communicate with you. =
What=20
inspired this, was I was just talking to a friend about this situation, =
and he=20
was like “na man, she’s just given you a hard time, where’s your sense =
of=20
humor”. So I thought about that for a bit, I don’t know you, or =
what your=20
sense of humor is like. So… I’ll go ahead and give you the =
benefit=20
of the doubt, and believe that you don’t truly have intentions of =
leaving those=20
statements about me being spammer live online indefinitely, and that you =
don’t=20
wish me harm. Your are just giving me a hard time,=20
right?
Now Dori, I contacted you =
about=20
chalcedony.com, because I was sincerely interested in purchasing it from =
you. It’s a cool domain that I could definitely develop and get =
some good=20
long term use out of. I was shocked by your response, “are you =
Michael S.=20
Cox the spammer, no we don’t want your money”. So I’m reading this =
and=20
thinking crap, this person thinks I’m a spammer, I’ve got numerous =
internet=20
assets spread across the web, some with AdSense and Yahoo ads, so =
naturally I=20
said, “no it’s someone else, if you want to sale the domain drop me a=20
note”. I blew you off because I don’t want anyone damaging my =
financial=20
assets, specially I don’t want someone heading on over to a website of =
mine with=20
PPC ads, and attempting to get me banned from one of the publisher =
networks,=20
simply stated, I don’t want enemies. Money and assets aside, you =
insulted=20
before I even had a chance to discuss the matter with you civilly, sorry =
but I’m=20
not going to fend off allegations from someone that I don’t even know, I =
don’t=20
have the time or energy for that, or the need, and apparently too much=20
pride. I did not expect you to respond the second email, I thought =
it=20
would get you off my case, and it would end there. Your second =
email which=20
from my point of view was far more vehement than the first, really =
pissed me=20
off, I’ll say it straight. I’m reading it thinking “what is up =
with this=20
lady”? I then thought “hell no, I’m not going to defend myself =
against=20
this person’s allegations and insults”, you insulted me Dori, but =
you don’t=20
even know me. I hate spam mailers as much as you, and I certainly =
don’t=20
want to labeled one, as I’m not.
Second concern, I owned Autumn =
Gallery=20
until about January of this year. I sold the website and domain =
over at=20
sitepoint.com, as you noted. My fear was, and is now somewhat =
justified,=20
that if you knew I was the same Michael S. Cox, you would not believe =
that I=20
don’t own the website, and you would try and damage it either by =
defamation, or=20
by PPC fraud. The guy that owns the site, his name is Vadim, he’s =
really=20
nice guy, and I especially don’t want anything bad to happed to him or =
his=20
website as a result of some pointless feud that we have cooked up over=20
nothing.
Now to the real core of the =
problem=20
here. The email over at debian, and I’m sure it’s not the only one =
there,=20
wasn’t spam. Autumn Gallery had at one point over 4000 reciprocal =
links in=20
it’s directory. Now keep mind, I was stupid enough at the time, to =
try and=20
manage that all manually, without any form of computer software, link =
programs=20
etc. What happened, and it happened several times, is I kept =
sending by=20
mistake the same link exchange request to the same people, people that =
had=20
already linked with me. So obviously some of these people got =
annoyed,=20
others got outright pissed off. I wasn’t doing this with malicious =
intent,=20
I wasn’t marketing Viagra, I especially wasn’t marketing my own products =
via=20
spam, I was simply trying to manage a directory of links that got at one =
point=20
completely unmanageable. So, obviously one of these people or =
several for=20
that matter, sent in complaints about getting repeated link =
requests. I=20
operated the site for nearly 4 years, so I think it’s inevitable that =
when you=20
are sending out email to clients, wholesale shops, etc, emails are going =
caught=20
in spam filters, sent to the wrong people, etc. Autumn Gallery =
also had a=20
mailing list of about 2000 subscribers I think it was, I even had a =
couple of=20
those people say “what the hell are you sending me this email for, and =
then=20
realizing they were on the list”. So I may be guilty of poor =
website=20
management, annoying my link partners, but nothing more.
So Dori, to make a long story =
short, I=20
don’t spam people, and confronted with insults from a stranger, I would =
just=20
rather turn a cheek and walk away. I have God given right to want =
to=20
protect all of my assets, I’m just like anyone else. I =
translated=20
your initial email as “a threat to me”, and I reacted accordingly. =
I have=20
an enormous amount of hard work and money invested in internet =
assets as I=20
mentioned, I was stupid for trying to maintain anonymity with you when =
it=20
clearly wasn’t possible, but I didn’t do it out of malice or anything =
sinister,=20
I was just trying to walk away from the situation without creating a =
enemy,=20
without creating any problems.
I’m sorry for what I said to =
you, I don’t=20
believe you are ugly. In fact I saw a photo, I think it was of you =
and=20
husband [via Google images], you both look like a very nice =
couple. I’m=20
actually from California as well, I grew up in Whittier down south of =
you, my=20
folks and I moved up to Hillsboro, Oregon when I was about 10. =
When I was=20
21 I got a scholarship to study at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, =
Poland, I=20
fell in love with city and have been living here ever since. =
Anyways, I’m=20
not telling you this because you are interested, it’s my attempt to put =
a bit of=20
a human side to myself.
So please, we don’t have to be =
friends, but=20
we don’t have to be enemies either. This is a misunderstanding =
that has=20
over boiled over. Please remove the spammer comments about me, =
that’s all=20
I am asking. There is no need for this to escalate any =
further. I=20
really hope that you can read this, and understand my point of view on =
the=20
events as they unfolded. I’m doing some really cool things online =
[none of=20
which include spam
I hope you can fix this for me =
Dori. =20
If you could even type out a small retract, that would be so very much=20
appreciated. It could say something like “Michael S. Cox was a =
rude arse=20
to me in an email, and even lied about his identity in a lame attempt to =
shelter=20
himself, but it turns out he’s not a spammer.” Or you could even =
just=20
create page that says “Michael S. Cox is asshole” if you can’t forgive =
me for=20
being cruel to you. I have sent this to you in sincerity and good=20
faith. Please meet me in the middle, and let’s bury our =
grievances. =20
Any other way of dealing with this is wasted time for both =
us.
I await your =
reply,
Michael
——=_NextPart_000_005A_01C67FDE.EF1E5E90–
Czesc from Krakow! You are a liar and just plain evil. Either you thought you were defaming a fictitious person, or you are not smart enough to realize people know other people. You won’t even allow this to be published either because you are a liar and just plain evil. So there, spoken not even in my native language. More people coming your way, time to spread to word about you Dori Smith.
ML
So there you have it – in E-mail, Michael S. Cox admits that he did send unsolicited E-mail whether he intended to or not, that he lied about doing so, that he lied about owning the site mentioned in the spam, and that he did so repeatedly out of fear that his tactics would be uncovered and that he would suffer economic penalties (that is, be banned from some pay-per-click advertiser networks).
Instead of admitting to his actions, he lied to cover them up, repeatedly, and has now apparently asked his friends to start harassing Dori and calling her a “liar” for posting information that Michael S. Cox now admits was true all along.
Dori, I think you have an interesting case here, as Marek just admitted that Michael S. Cox pretty much asked his friends to come harass you for posting the truth about him. It seems Michael S. Cox is the one defaming you, and intentionally so, in a last-ditch attempt to keep from suffering the consquences of his illegal and defamatory actions.
I don’t think he’s going to have to worry about buying chalcedony.com. If he keeps this up for another few days, you’re going to have enough that when you take him to court, you’re going to absolutely own him when it’s done, including all of his domains, maybe his house, who knows. Every extra bit of harassment he provides is just another chunk of his bank account (and those of his friends who willingly go along with him) that’s going to be yours in the end.
Of course, he may point out that since he’s in Poland, it’s going to be hard for you to sue him, all the while forgetting that it makes it even harder for him to sue you. Nonetheless, that last E-mail posted in these comments is pretty much the absolute defense of truth you need to have pair.com ignore anything he sends – he was lying all along, and now he’s desperately trying to harass you into not revealing any more of it.
Do you want to own a house in Poland?
Oh man, I feel like I got left out! No Cease and Desist for me just yet!
I received an email today, after having a link to the original article:
Michael S. Cox to matt.schinckel
More options 05:36(9 hours ago)
Hello,
Any chance you would be willing to remove the spammer comments about me in your blog, it would be really appreciated? I don’t send spam nor have I.
Michael Cox
Amazingly, Gmail didn’t pick this up as Spam
” My =
fear was, and is now somewhat justified, that if you knew I was the same =
Michael S. Cox, you would not believe that I don’t own the website, and =
you would try and damage it either by defamation, or by PPC fraud. ”
Ah, my favourite line of all. How I would like to examine him in a discovery, or as you call it, a deposition and grill him on that one.
Ginny